Evesham

A report, published today by Her Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary, has criticised the decision to end the alliance between the West Mercia and Warwickshire forces.

They're still in the process of agreeing a separation, after West Mercia Police complained in October 2018 that the arrangement was unfair and one-sided.

BBC

In this report, Wendy Williams, Her Majesty’s Inspector of Constabulary, said West Mercia's "decision to terminate the alliance does not appear to have been based on a well-evidenced business case, nor were the public or partners consulted beforehand".

She also said: "There is no certainty as to how it will provide these services in the future, and the costs and benefits of terminating the alliance are not yet fully known."

The split was due to take place last year, but Home Secretary Priti Patel ordered an extension until April, after the two sides couldn't agree the terms.

It will be a cloudy day with some sunny spells and highs of 9C (48F).

A white water facility in Pershore, a BMX track in Evesham and new wetland and wildlife habitats are all being planned by Wychavon District Council.

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They're included in its spending plans for the next four years along with a commitment to tackle congestion in Evesham and a promise to open the district's first health and wellbeing centre.

Councillors also voted to freeze council tax for the third year in a row.

It will be a dry and chilly night with some patchy fog and lows of 0C (32F).

BBC Weather Watchers/Anna L

You can find a detailed forecast for your area on the BBC Weather site.

Here are three of the main stories from the Worcester News website today:

• Man rescued from River Severn in Worcester
• Panic buying at pharmacy over coronavirus concerns
• Tributes to popular karate instructor

Many of you have been getting in touch via the BBC Midlands Facebook site to comment on our story about smear test results being delayed for up to 10 weeks.

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Jodi Burgess posted: "I waited 12 weeks to be told not enough cells collected to then wait a further 10 weeks."With abnormal smears previously this was a long six months wait to hear all ok. Crazy how long the wait is."

Karen Groves wrote: "I’m into week 11 of waiting now and keep being told 'no news is good news'. They’re quick enough to bombard women with letters and further reminders to go in the first place though! Absolute disgrace."

Hannah Parkes commented: "I was told the normal 2 to 3 weeks when had my appt back on the 20th November - rang at new year to be told results are up to 3 months - mine took 2 months in the end and thankfully everything is ok. 3 months wait is a long time if there is something abnormal!!"

Storm Ciara is set to bring strong and possibly damaging winds across the West Midlands.

Met Office

The Met Office has issued a yellow weather warning for the region from 18:00 on Saturday to midnight on Sunday.

Its forecast says gusts of between 80 and 100km/h (50-60mph) are likely across inland areas.

Any early mist and fog should clear leaving a dry and bright day with highs of 5C (41F).

It's forecast to be a cold, clear night for most of us and in some places the temperature will drop below freezing.

Temperatures tomorrow will remain cold, and further ahead there's some stormy weather expected at the weekend.

Postman Les

It's a foggy and misty start to Wednesday across the West Midlands but that should lift over the morning for a bright afternoon.

It's going to start to change though, and a yellow weather warning is already in place for high winds that are due to develop ahead of the weekend.

Another 20 electric car charging points will be set up around Pershore, Broadway, Droitwich and Evesham.

Wychavon District Council has announced it will spend £150,000 on the chargers, as part of its drive to reduce carbon emissions.

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The government's Office of Low Emission Vehicles is giving the council £64,000, to help meet the costs.

Worcestershire's acute hospitals are set to ask the government for more than £100m to improve the county's accident and emergency departments.

Both the MP for Redditch, Rachel Maclean, and the MP for Worcester, Robin Walker, have said they'll back the bid, which is currently in its outline stages with hospital bosses.

BBC

While the hospitals trust hasn't yet commented publicly on the plans, the Conservative MPs have said it was encouraged to be more ambitious by the Health Secretary Matt Hancock.

Ms Maclean said they wanted £20m for The Alexandra Hospital in Redditch and £60m for the Worcester Royal Hospital, with another £22m to improve communications at the trust.

It will be a clear and dry night with some cloud likely in the early hours with lows of 1C (34F).

BBC Weather Watchers/Jon

You can find a detailed weather forecast for your area on the BBC Weather site.

It will be a mostly clear and sunny day with highs of 10C (50F).

It will be a cloudy and misty night with the chance of showers and lows of 8C (46F).

Patchy rain should move away, leaving a brighter day tomorrow.

BBC Weather Watchers/Terry Eyre

You can find a detailed weather forecast for your area on the BBC Weather site.

It will be a cloudy day with some rain this afternoon and highs of 13C (55F).

It will be a cloudy day with some patchy drizzle and highs of 12C (54F).

Tonight will be cold and largely dry with long clear spells and lows of 0C (32F).

BBC Weather Watchers / AJthewalker

Wednesday will be dry and fine with long sunny spells and patchy cloud.

You can find a detailed weather forecast for your area on the BBC Weather site.

It will be a chilly and breezy day with some bright spells and mainly dry with highs of 7C (45F).

It will be a cold and breezy night with some wintry showers and lows of 1C (34F).

There will be sunny spells tomorrow with some showers drifting eastwards.

BBC Weather Watchers/Laura and Glenn

You can find a detailed forecast for your area on the BBC Weather site.

It will be a chilly breezy day with sunny spells and highs of 8C (46F).

It will be a cloudy night with the odd clear spell and lows of 4C (39F).

BBC Weather Watchers/Littleacorns

Saturday will be another mostly cloudy and dull day with the possibility of some sunny spells in the afternoon.

You can find a detailed forecast for your area on the BBC Weather site.

It will be another cloudy misty day with some light drizzle and highs of 9C (48F).

It will be a mild night with areas of fog and cloud with occasional drizzle and lows of 5C (41F).

Liam Ball

Friday will again be mainly cloudy and misty with some fog.

You can find a detailed weather forecast for your area on the BBC Weather site.

The cloudy skies are set to continue tonight with patches of fog forming. Low: 6C (43F).

MaidMarion

Then staying cloudy tomorrow with mist and fog around and a few spots of drizzle later in the day. High 8C (46F).

Get a latest forecast from the BBC Weather website.

Cloudy and misty to start today with fog patches around. It'll then become a cloudy day with the odd bright spell and there could be drizzle this afternoon. High: 10C/50F.

Then some clearer spells this evening but it'll be mainly cloudy tonight with the chance of drizzle and mist spreading across most areas. Low: 6C/43F.

Get a latest forecast for your area at any time from the BBC Weather website.

There will be a few clear spells overnight but mainly it will be cloudy and misty with lows of 3C (37F).

BBC Weather Watchers/Postman Les

Tomorrow is set to be a mainly cloudy and misty day with a few bright spells.

You can find a detailed forecast for your area on the BBC Weather site.

Early patches of fog will clear to leave a cloudy day with some bright spells and highs of 7C (45F).

After a cold start it will be a dry day with sunny spells and highs of 6C (43F).

Lives will be lost if a town's community ambulance hub is shut, a former paramedic's told the BBC.

West Midlands Ambulance Service wants to remove the response base in Cheadle, Staffordshire, by the end of March.

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Instead, it wants to convert the rapid response vehicle there into an ambulance as it says the current vehicle only attends 2.2% of calls in the area.

But former paramedic Carole Winning told BBC Radio Stoke she believes lives are at stake: "They're saying they'll have an ambulance here but they won't because they're so busy, they'll never get here."

Cheadle Town Councillor Dave Sargeant said it would take longer for ambulances to respond: "You've got areas like Whiston, Ipstones, Foxt. These are difficult places to get to and, if you think of somebody coming from Newcastle to Cheadle, a minimum time to get here, it's going to be 25 minutes."

The ambulance service said it believed the move would save money and would not change the level of ambulance cover in the area, "if anything, this will increase over the coming months".

It will be a cold night with clear periods and lows of -1C (30F).

A mostly dry and fine day can be expected tomorrow with lengthy periods of sunshine.

BBC Weather Watchers/Steve Blackman

You can find a detailed weather forecast for your area on the BBC Weather site.

A man's died several days after his car was in collision with two others at a crossroads.

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The crash happened on 5 January in Harvington, near Evesham, Worcestershire, West Mercia Police said.

The man, in his 80s, was driving a Honda Jazz and officers said he died as a result of the injuries he suffered.

It will be a windy day with some heavy rain at times with highs of 8C (46F).

The dry weather's set to continue tonight which will also see long, clear spells and a light breeze. Low: 3C (37F).

Liam Ball

Tomorrow will start dry and bright but it'll then turn cloudy and windy through the morning with some rain later in the day. High: 11C (52F).

You can keep up-to-date on the latest weather for your area on the BBC Weather website.

River levels across the West Midlands are expected to stay high over the next few days, the Environment Agency has said.

It's still got flood alerts affecting the rivers Severn, Avon, Teme, Lugg, Dene, Leam, Swift, Sow, Penk, Worfe, Tern and Perry.

Environment Agency

More rain is forecast tomorrow and the Environment Agency warned that people in towns and cities may see floodwater rise up through drains.

It's set to be a dry day with sunny spells and, while breezy, not as windy as yesterday. High: 9C/48F.

The dry weather's set to continue tonight with a lot of clear sky. Low: 3C/37F.

Get the latest forecast for your area at any time from the BBC Weather website.

Businesses in Shropshire, Herefordshire and Worcestershire are being invited to bid for grants of up to £150,000.

The money is partly from the European Regional Development Fund and companies can ask for money to pay for new buildings, extensions, renovations or repairs, as long as they pay half the costs themselves.

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Shops and farming companies are exempt, however, and companies can't apply for retrospective funding for work they've already carried out.

Successful applicants will also have to prove the investment creates at least one full-time job within four months of the work's completion.

Funding is not affected by Brexit.

Flash flooding is "inevitable" with heavy rain and winds forecast across the West Midlands later, the Environment Agency has said.

A yellow warning for wind is in place from 12:00 until midnight.

Strong winds could cause travel problems and there's the possibility of power loss in some areas, the Met Office is warning.

The yellow warning, affecting the whole of the West Midlands, is in place from 12:00 until midnight.

Storm Brendan is set to be followed by icy patches, wintry showers and more gales in other parts of the country which could lead to further travel disruption.

It's going to get windy today with rain from late morning and highs of 10C (50F).